Back to School Bingo Printable Game for Kids

Back to school bingo is a fun and easy way to kick off the new school year with energy and connection, whether you’re teaching in a classroom or gathering at home.

These free printable bingo cards feature school-themed images that help kids get comfortable, spark conversation, and ease back into routines through play.

With simple rules and bright visuals, this is one first day activity they’ll actually look forward to.

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School Free Printable Bingo Cards

This set includes 5 full color back to school bingo cards and a matching page of calling cards.

Each board uses familiar school-themed images, like backpacks, pencils, and apples, to keep kids engaged on day one.

Perfect for small groups or classroom centers, the cards come in a 5×5 format with a free space in the center.

If you’re working with more than five students, you can pair kids into teams to play together or print multiples for rotating groups.

Want to reuse them next year? Print on cardstock and laminate for durability.

How to Play First Day of School Bingo

Here’s how to set up and play this easy first day of school activity:

Print the bingo boards and calling cards.

Cut out the calling cards.

Hand out one bingo board to each player or team.

Choose your markers—mini erasers, dot markers, or small tokens work well.

Call out or show the images. Kids mark the picture if it’s on their board.

The first to complete a row, column, or diagonal yells “Bingo!”

Fun Ways to Use Back to School Bingo

Looking for more ways to use this bingo game beyond the first day? Here are a few easy and engaging ideas:

Family game night – Use bingo as a fun learning game at home. It’s a great way for kids to review school-related vocabulary while spending quality time together.

Back-to-school party – Add the game to a celebration with friends. It’s festive, low-prep, and works well for mixed age groups.

After-school activity – A relaxed way for kids to wind down while still reinforcing classroom concepts.

Homework incentive – Let kids play a round of bingo after finishing assignments, it’s a motivating (and screen-free) reward.

Parent-child connection – Play together and talk about school themes as you go. A simple way to spark conversation and support learning at home.

More First Week of School Printables

Keep the momentum going with these fun and low-prep activities for the first week back:

• Back to school letter worksheets – A simple way to ease into handwriting practice while getting back into routine.
• Back to school word search – Help kids settle in with a quiet, focused puzzle using school-themed vocabulary.
• Back to school bookmark – Let students reflect on themselves and their favorite books with this creative, foldable keepsake.
• Back to school writing prompts – Spark imagination and self-expression with 36 thoughtful writing ideas.
• Back to school color by number – A calming activity that blends number recognition with creative coloring.

Best Back to School Books for Kids

After a round of bingo, we often wind down with a good story. These are a few of my favorite first day of school read alouds to help ease jitters and spark conversation:

• If You Take a Mouse to School – Always a hit, especially with younger kids. It’s silly, familiar, and opens the door to talking about school routines.
• Time for School, Little Blue Truck – A gentle, comforting read that’s perfect for easing into the idea of a new classroom.
• The Crayons Go Back to School – Fun, colorful, and relatable, especially if your kids already love the Crayon series.

Need to print later? Add this to your Pinterest board or share it on Facebook. You’ll have it handy whenever you’re ready to use it!

Get the Back to School Bingo Free Printable Here!

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Last Updated on 28 May 2025 by Clare Brown